The postcards continue ...
"While Delma, Selma and Zelma showed off their Xmas hats, Wilma smiled warmly, knowing in her heart that her little kiss curl made her the cutest woman at the party."
"Selma's friends all wanted to show off their nifty hats too. All, except for Myrtle and her little sister, Sally. No-one had told them it was a hat party. They put on a collective brave face, while secretly lusting over June's little crocheted number."
This was my attempt at a table decoration for tonight's dinner party. It's not much, but it's what my backyard had on offer. I actually like its simplicity.
More photos here.
Irene asked me for a tutorial for my hacky sacks. I refined the pattern from several I found on the web. This is what works for me! I have also posted a downloadable PDF in the right-hand bar.
I'm not the only one doing it. Read this story (heard on NPR today) about a man who invites the world to dinner every Sunday night. May our humble beginnings blossom into something so wonderful.
Oh how I love my macro lens.
I used to write a lot of letters. As a child I had penpals. I spent a year in England in my teens and kept in constant contact via mail with my best friend in Australia. My sister has shoeboxes of my letters written as a young mother. Even just a few years ago, I wrote long illustrated tomes to my daughter. What happened? 
We kicked off our Sunday Open Dinners with a Games Night tonight. Shawna, Lola and Sara joined us; much laughter ensued. What a lovely end to a very nice staycation. Back to work tomorrow!
It's really fun to play with paint and paper again. So much of my creating has been done with cloth for the past year. Though I see cloth is still making an appearance :-) I'm enjoying myself!
I love to wrap gifts in cloth; and this little something nestles perfectly in a wrap made from an unpicked silk tie. It's doubly satisfying when the wrapping, as well as the gift, is both aesthetic and useful. My yearnings for beauty and utility are satisfied nicely.
My one little word for 2009 is FEED.
Although it was sunny and warm at home, the coastline was chilly and misty. We climbed Point Dume, armed with binoculars, [some of us] optimistic about whale or dolphin sighting.
To our delight, there was a pod of dolphins close to shore! I was especially happy that Josh was there to see them. He's never seen dolphins in the wild here, and has scoffed at my claim that I frequently see them on my way to work. A few actually did big leaps for us, but the only thing I managed to record was the after-splash.
When we climbed back down to the beach, Josh sat in the car with the heater running (he HATES the cold) while Lauren danced with delight at the water's edge.
I didn't find the perfect calendar, so I made my own, personalized version. Now I'm ready for the new year. Are you?
It is just. so. yellow.
The bright gold against the achingly blue sky -- washed so very clean by recent rain -- just says "L.A. winter" to me. Gorgeous.
Josh hauled out the crate of old photos tonight, and he and Lauren spent a lovely couple of hours reminiscing. Since switching to digital, we haven't figured out a good way to back up and access the many, many images we record. How do YOU catalog and store your digital images so that you can enjoy them again later?
The morning was spent with Evie, exploring Union Station, Olvera Street and Chinatown. We've picked up our Walking L.A. books again, and look forward to completing the last few trips.
In the afternoon, Josh and I went to Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, to see Mark Ruwedel's photographic exhibition of abandoned railroads. Sadly, the gallery was closed, so we drove to the beach to photograph the sunset instead. Then home to build a roaring fire. I know most people will snort with derision when I say this, but it's chilly here!
